Bicycle



No. 6l5,l37. Patented Nov. 29, I898. G. CAIJDICK.

BICYCLE.

(Application filed Oct. 7, 1897.)

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No. 6l5,l37. Patented Nov. 29, I898.

G. GADDIGK. BICYCLE.

(Application filed Oct. 7, 897.) (In Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE CADDICK, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,137, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed October 7, 1897- Serial No. 654,361. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE CADDICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented 0r discovered a new and useful Improvement in Bicycles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved bicycle. Fig. 2 is a plan view with part of the upper framework removed. Fig. 3 is a detail View, in side elevation, of the gearing and inclosing case. Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section on the line IV IV of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and (3 are detail views illustrating the method of securing the case-lid in position. Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken through the rear hub on the line VII VII of Fig. .3. Fig. 8 is a similar section taken on the line VIII VIII of same figure.

My invention relates to bicycles, and has reference to the driving mechanism by which the machine is propelled. This mechanism consists of a train of toothed gear-wheels, located on each side of the machine, adapted to communicate motion to the driven Wheel of the machine and provided with separate pedal-cranks, mounted in an inclosing case, which is incorporated withand forms a part of the frame of the machine.

The details of construction and features of novelty and advantages will be hereinafter set forth.

Primarily the object of my invention is to dispense with the chain-gearing of a bicycle or other foot-propelled vehicle and to substitute therefor a more compact, evenly-balanced, and dust-proof mechanism whereby the machine is rendered more efficient in operation and less bulky and cumbersome in construction.

To that end I employ the duplicate train of inter-meshing toothed gear-wheels 2, 3, and 4, the wheels 2 being secured upon the ends or forming a part of the rear-wheel hub,which in the form of machine most commonly in use is the driven member, by which the bicycle is propelled. In the construction shown in the drawings the wheels 2 are provided with outer hub extensions 5 and inner extensions 6, such inner extensions being connected to the hubbarrel7 by means of right and left hand screwjoints 8, so that in the forward travel of the machine the tendency will be to tighten the joint. The neck of the wheel 2 is turned down to form a bearing-surface 9 for the balls 10, and the entire hub is preferably more securely held together by means of a bolt 11, having oppositely-directed threads and nuts 12. When thus constructed, the hub of the rear wheel is rigidly and uuyieldingly connected and forms practically a continuous hub. The wheel 3, intermediate between wheels 2 and 4, serves as an idler-wheel to convey motion from the driver to the driven wheel and by which it is made to revolve in a forward direction. The wheels 3 and 4 are made with short projecting journals 13, designed to form the shafts for such wheels, but preferably made integral therewith, and surrounding the necks of such journals I have employed the bearing-thimbles 14:,of hardened metal, which form a bearing-surface for the balls 10.

15 is an inclosing case or housing incorporated into the frame of the machine and forming a part thereof, being joined to the truss members 16 17, a strengthening-brace 17 extending from the top of the ease forwardly to the member 17, such case being made in a form suitable to receive the gearing and furnished with suitable ball-bearin g races 18 and perforated to receive the projecting hubs and thimbles. Upon the outer face of the case 15 is a correspondingly-shaped plate 19, also having ball-bearing races 18 and held in position by bolts 20, tapped through the plate into the bottom of the case and secured by nuts 21. Adjacent to such securing-bolts are adjustable temper-screws 22, also tapped into the bottom of the case and provided with heads 23, slotted so as to be turned byascrewdriver, a suitable hole 24 beingleft in the plate 19 for entrance of the screw-driver without removing the plate. By these means the outer plate may be very delicately adjusted, so as to control the action of the ball-bearings, and when properly set and adjusted the entire construction is held rigidly in position, while being free to operate with a minimum friction.

The inclosing case when properly made of pressed or cast steel is very stiff and light,

and when so assembled the parts are securely inclosed and protected from dust or any foreign substance. As will be seen and readily understood, the construction is the same on each side, thereby perfectly equalizing the pressure, the cranks 25 being keyed or socured to the outer projecting ends 13 of the journals 13, and when set oppositely will maintain such relative positions by reason of the controlling effect of the wheels 2, which always maintain the same relation to each other, and consequently effect such a result in the driving-wheels 4.

It will be understood that the size and number of teeth of the gear-wheels may be made to suit different requirements, thus making the gear of the wheel to any desired degree by regulating the proportions of the driving and driven pinions.

By my improved arrangement of gearing I am enabled to locate the axles of the drivingwheels considerably back of the rim of the rear wheel, the range of foot revolution being in consequence farther back, and thus the bicycle may be considerably shortened, while the construction of the frame is rendered simpler and cheaper, as I am thus enabled to dispense with the usual center post common to diamond-frame machines, while employing less material throughout.

Changes and modifications may be made by the skilled mechanic in the design and proportion of the frame or in the number and arrangement of the gearing without departing from my invention, since I do not desire to be limited to the exact proportions and arrangement shown in the drawings, but to include all such changes as are within the scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a bicycle having a gear-casing incorporated with the frame and provided with a removable plate, and intervening ball-bearings for the journals of the driving-gear carried by the casing an d plate respectively; ad j usting-screws forming bearings for the plate and securing-bolts for retainin git in position substantially as set forth.

2. In a bicycle having a gear-casing incorporated with the frame and provided with a removable plate, with ball-bearing grooves upon the inner faces of the casing and plate respectively; with intervening ball-bearings, adjusting-screws forming bearings for the plate and securing-bolts for retaining it in position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bicycle the combination of oppositely-located gear-casings incorporated with the frame provided with a removable plate, ball-bearing grooves upon the inner faces of the casing and plate respectively, pinionwheels connected with the rear-wheel hub mounted therein, and adjustable screws upon which the plate bears and securing-bolts for retaining it in position, driving gear-wheels provided with cranks, and inter-meshing intervening gearing also mounted therein; substantially as set forth.

4. A bicycle having oppositely-located gearcasings incorporated with the frame each provided with a removable plate, ball-bearing grooves upon the inner faces of each casingand plate respectively, pinion-wheels connected with the rear-wheel hub by screwthreads and a central securing-bolt mounted therein, driving gear-wheels provided with cranks, and interrneshing intervening gearing also mounted therein with means for adjusting the ball-bearings; substantially as set forth.

5. In a bicycle provided with gear-casings incorporated with the frame on each side having adj ustably-secured removable plates, the combination of pedal-driven gearing mounted in each casing on ball-bearings formed in the casin g and plate respectively, with intermeshing driven pinion-wheels similarly mounted having inwardly-extending hubs connected to the wheel hub by right and left hand screws, and a connecting central bolt, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of August, 1897.

GEORGE CADDICK.

lVitnesses:

PETER J. EDWARDS, O. M. CLARKE. 

